Troop 109 History

Troop 109, Boy Scouts of America

c/o Millbury Federated Church

20 Main Street

Millbury, MA 01527

Boy Scouts of America.

Website/technical issues: webmaster@troop109millbury.org

General Information: info@troop109millbury.org

when Gordon Hurd, son of Dr. Albert G. Hurd, began to organize what was to become the first Boy Scout Troop in the town of Millbury. With the help of Weldon Glover, who acted as the first unofficial Scoutmaster, a group of boys and men started a venture that they never quite imagined would lead to what we today know as Troop 109.

On March 27, 1922 the Boy Scouts of America issued a formal charter to Troop 1 of Millbury, Massachusetts. On this charter, the sponsoring institution is listed as the March Bible Class of the First Congregational Church. and Rev. Ernest Morrill is registered as Scoutmaster. This was the beginning of what was to develop into over 85 years of continuous service in this community. The early meetings were held in the church vestry of the First Congregational Church and from the beginning the unit began to prosper: by 1923, 18 boys were registered. Also in 1923, the second year of the Troop's formal existence, records indicate that 75% of the Troop spent an average of 6 ½ days in a "Scout camp conducted by the Worcester Council." To give some idea of the economic conditions of the times, the cost was 71 ¢ per scout, per day, to attend camp and the sponsoring institution provided $6.00 a year to the Troop. At the next year's Charter review the question was raised as to why more

Troop 109 History

Troop 109’s story starts in 1921

A majority of this version of Troop 109’s History is excerpted from an article entitled “Reflections” which appeared in the program booklet for the 50th Anniversary celebration of Troop 109 held in April of 1972. Additional information was provided by the late Mr. Arthur Lowell in preparation for the Troop’s 75th Anniversary celebrated in November of 1997. The author of the original “Reflections” is unknown. Some minor revisions and updates were made to the article in September of 2007 for the 85th Anniversary of Troop 109, BSA.

boys did not have uniforms. The reply from the Scoutmaster was, "I have not strongly urged uniforms because I have been unable to afford one myself." In 1926 the Worcester Council (which later changed it’s name to Mohegan Council) revised their Troop numbering system. Troop 1 of Millbury was reassigned a new number and became known as Troop 109, a symbol which has stood with pride for over eight decades. After meeting for several years in the First Congregational Church in Bramanville, the unit moved around to several different locations within the old Millbury Town Hall at the corner of Elm & Main Streets. For two years, its meeting place was the old High School or Center School located in the building now occupied by the Millbury Youth Center. From 1928 to 1938, the First Congregational Church, Millbury Federated Church, and Millbury Baptist Church all sponsored Troop 109. From 1938 to 1947, the Congregational Church and Federated Churches continued to share the responsibility as sponsors. Then in 1947, the Men's Brotherhood of the Federated Church became our sole sponsor. Today, as it has for many years, the Troop holds its meetings downstairs in the Federated Church, known to most as the "Scout Hall."

In 1930 the late Mr. Robert White became the first boy in Troop 109 to attain the high honor of the Eagle Scout Rank. As of our 85th Anniversary, there are over 113 Eagle Scouts from Troop 109. The five Lowe brothers from our Troop hold the Mohegan Council record for the most boys from one family to become Eagle Scouts. Several of our Eagle Scouts, over the past 85 years were selected to represent the Mohegan Council as nominees for "Scout of the Year." In the 1960's, Peter Kotilainen was chosen as the National Scout of the Year. He had the honor of presenting, to President John F. Kennedy, the Scout Report to the Nation. In 1987 Richard S. Cole became the first Eagle Scout of Troop 109 not residing in the town of Millbury, currently he also holds the Troop record for most Merit Badges earned, at 43. Scouts have distinguished themselves by continuing the traditions and spirit of scouting through Troop 109 in many ways. Eagle Scout Ronald Hicks helped by incorporating the Troop's motto "TROOP 109, MOHEGAN'S FINEST" into a neckerchief slide that has been worn with pride by many members of the Troop and continues as our logo to this day. He also carried this spirit of scouting further by designing the Pachachaug Lodge 525 Order of the Arrow pocket flap. Throughout central Massachusetts, all members of Mohegan's OA Lodge wear this very flap on their uniform to this day.

The 1930s and 40's saw the usual "ups and downs" associated with any organization of this type. It should be noted that people have always come forward to keep this organization strong and growing in it’s time of need. In fact, during the 85 years of this organization, one of its real strengths has been the tremendous amount of adult participation and loyal, devoted leadership, having only 19 men serve as Scoutmasters and 19 men serve as Troop Committee Chairmen. It is difficult to highlight each person who has given their time, sweat equity, and loyalty to serve Troop 109. We must, however, recognize the valuable contributions of dedicated Scoutmasters such as the late Mr. Arthur S. Lowell who became Scoutmaster of Troop 109 and served for 15 years from 1956 until the spring of 1971. Mr. Lowell’s 15 year tenure is currently tied for the longest consecutive term because this year, 2007, Scoutmaster Richard S. Cole also marks his 15th year as Scoutmaster of Troop 109. While all who have served as Troop Committee Chairmen have certainly been dedicated, several distinguish themselves among their peers. Men such as Mr. Frederick J. Aspinwall and Mr. Antone Ponte who each served two separate terms over different decades and Mr. Ernest Vaillancourt who served for 15 years from 1985 through the Fall of 2000 certainly deserve recognition for their service. In 1961, the mothers and wives, who had always played a very important but unofficial role in the Troop, organized their efforts. These dedicated women formed what was to become the Women’s Auxiliary of Troop 109, later the Parent’s Auxiliary and the help and guidance they have given Troop 109 has been outstanding over the years.

Troop 109 has a long tradition of being on the forefront of community service. Its activities have ranged from helping to find lost children, to delivering town reports, to more than 500 hours of hard labor in salvaging records from the Town Hall disaster in the 1970s. For over 20 years we have conducted a monthly Troop 109 "Can Drive." This provides a recycling opportunity for the local community and at the same time provides funds for Troop activities. Having done everything from volunteering time with Millbury’s elderly population to cleaning trash from Millbury’s main streets, it would take several pages to list the activities of the Troop in the area of service. It is interesting to note that on many occasions the boys of Troop 109 have worked their hardest at helping others, showing a real understanding of brotherhood.

As any scout who has spent time with the Troop can attest, the “outing” has always been a big part of “scouting” in Troop 109. We are proud to continue the tradition of at least one camping trip or outing for each month the Troop meets. Again, space is too limited to list every memorable monthly camping trip, but over the years 109ers should be proud to say they’ve had the chance to take part in many activities such as tent & cabin camping, hiking, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, archery, shooting sports, snow skiing & boarding, swimming, snorkeling, horseback riding, and white water rafting.

In addition to the local monthly camping trips and annual week at summer camp, Troop 109 has long had and continues to have a strong high adventure program, where boys are presented the opportunity to trek on a national and worldwide scale. Scouts from Troop 109 have journeyed to numerous National Scout Jamborees held in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia and several International Jamborees in locations such as Greece, Japan, Canada, & the United Kingdom. In July of 1987 the entire Troop traveled to France, touring Paris and camping for two weeks in the rural western part of that country with a group of French Scouts and their families. In the 1970s, 80s & 90s, many Troop 109 scouts participated in various Mohegan Council led contingents to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, New Mexico. The trip included a 30-day cross-country tour of 20 states and a Canadian province, along with a minimum 50-mile backpacking trek through the Sangre de Cristo Rocky Mountains at Philmont. In 2002, when council was no longer conducting this trip, Troop 109 proudly led its own 30 day Philmont contingent, complete with the cross-country tour and a compliment of over 40 scouts and leaders from central Massachusetts. In 2004 the troop also led a 14-day expedition of 24 scouts and leaders to the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys. The trip included a tour of the Southern Florida Everglades and the Keys, culminating at Sea Base with the primitive “Out Island” camping adventure, regarded as the B.S.A’s pinnacle of ocean based high adventure programs.

In all of its travels near and far Troop 109 has developed a tradition of humble pride throughout its 85 year history. In deeds this tradition is realized through the mastering of outdoor skills, development of leadership abilities, and completion of community service projects. In words, this tradition is symbolized by the motto of which we are proud: "TROOP 109, MOHEGAN'S FINEST" This motto is a lofty goal for Troop 109 scouts & leaders of today and tomorrow. Consider it a challenge to live up to this tradition of humble pride and the ideals of scouting in all our undertakings, as so many 109ers have before us.